~ Flu news, Information, Prepardness

Pacific Dawn cruise ship heading to Sydney

THE Pacific Dawn has set sail for Sydney having left 84 Queensland passengers in Brisbane. The company stressed that no passengers aboard the ship have tested positive for the virus and the ship has not been quarantined. It was said only Queensland passenger would be allowed to disembark at Brisbane, but authorities relented and all passengers were given the option to leave.
(Snip)The P&O cruise ship with 2000 passengers cut short its trip to the Great Barrier Reef after three crew members tested positive for swine flu. They have since recovered after treatment.

Meanwhile, big crowds are expected at Melbourne AFL matches this weekend despite Victoria’s swine flu tally hitting 138. Health authorities will not close sporting venues or shut down amateur matches, saying spectators and players have no cause for alarm.

With tens of thousands to pack stadiums today and tomorrow, a cautious AFL chief Andrew Demetriou said: “At the moment, and touch wood, there’s no issue for AFL football.”

More than 3000 Victorians are in voluntary quarantine and seven specialist flu clinics are operating across Melbourne. The rapid spread of the virus has forced the closure of seven schools.